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Congress adopts report on Yerevan elections and recommends strengthening of voting rights at local level

Congress adopts report on Yerevan elections and recommends strengthening of voting rights at local level[31/10/2013]

Following its mission to observe the election of the members of the Avagani (Assembly of Aldermen), of the city of Yerevan, Armenia, on 5 May 2013, the Congress today adopted a recommendation and resolution on this subject, at its 25th Session. Congress Rapporteur and Head of delegation, Stewart Dickson (United Kingdom, R, ILDG) welcomed the fact that the new Electoral Code of Armenia had contributed to the calm and technically well-prepared vote. He noted however that issues such as the practice of filming in each polling station during the voting and the extensive amount of domestic observers present, as well as the widespread use of mobile phones, remained problematic. He singled out the issue of voter registration as a potential area for improvement, calling on the Armenian authorities to make the main place of permanent residence - in addition to registration – a condition for voting rights at local level. Concluding his report, he said: “In line with our colleagues from the Venice Commission – we in the Congress are convinced that the legislative framework of Armenia has the potential to ensure genuinely democratic elections. But legislation alone is not enough. We therefore encourage the Armenian authorities to fully and properly implement all applicable provisions, and thus engage citizens in their democratic right to vote”. Speaking during the debate, EU Committee of the Regions member Doreen Huddart, who also participated in the observation mission, also highlighted the relative lack of facilities for disabled voters, adding that “Much more could be done to assist housebound or disabled voters to exercise their democratic rights.”